Master of Public Administration Public Management Online
This degree was created by working professionals seeking to give back to their community. It is designed to enhance the careers of law enforcement and public sector professionals in order to affordably achieve management-, direct- or executive-level positions.
Program Overview
The A-State Online MPA Public Management degree
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) Public Management track is designed to enhance the careers of law enforcement and public sector professionals in order to affordably achieve management-, director- or executive-level positions.
Unlike most MPAs, A-State’s 100% online program allows you to focus on specifics of management within public administration and gain hands-on experience through internship opportunities. The online MPA – Public Management track offers courses that focus on the skills required for effective public administration, from managing people and money to resources and programs. All Arkansas State online courses are taught by committed and professional faculty members and combine real-world experience and academic expertise.
Students are required to complete 36 hours of coursework. With the capstone option, internships are strongly encouraged for all pre-service students. Internships are normally undertaken after a student has completed 18 credit hours. Internships are open only to students with a grade point average of no less than 3.0.
Mission statement
The Master of Public Administration at Arkansas State University exists to enhance individual, organizational, social and governmental capacity in the public and nonprofit sectors by equipping pre-service and mid-career students with sound management skills and a public/nonprofit philosophy to lead public institutions of the future with integrity, innovation, excellence, and professionalism.
Within the MPA – Public Management, you will:
- Develop dispositions, knowledge and skills for rigorous problem analysis and successful collaboration leading to comprehensive solutions
- Build communities and social infrastructures through the use of clear communication and ethical and effective management techniques
- Integrate theory and practice through authentic, performance-based field activities
- Examine administrative structures and patterns of behavior in public sector organizations
- Develop a theoretical and technical framework for understanding the fundamentals of policy analysis and evaluation and political processes
- Gain an understanding of administrative methods associated with governmental revenues, expenditures and fiscal control of public organizations
- Develop dispositions, knowledge and skills for rigorous problem analysis and successful collaboration leading to comprehensive solutions
- Build communities and social infrastructures through the use of clear communication and ethical and effective management techniques
- Integrate theory and practice through authentic, performance-based field activities
- Examine administrative structures and patterns of behavior in public sector organizations
- Develop a theoretical and technical framework for understanding the fundamentals of policy analysis and evaluation and political processes
- Gain an understanding of administrative methods associated with governmental revenues, expenditures and fiscal control of public organizations
As a graduate, you will be prepared for various leadership roles in the public sector, including:
- Human Resources Manager
- City Manager
- Manager, Research and Analysis
- Director of Personnel
- Departmental Director
- Policy Analyst
- Human Resources Manager
- City Manager
- Manager, Research and Analysis
- Director of Personnel
- Departmental Director
- Policy Analyst
Additional documents
MPA Guide Online Edition (.PDF)
State Program Approvals (.PDF)
Also available:
A-State offers a variety of graduate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online graduate programs.
Accreditation
NASPAA accredited
Tuition
Find out how and when to pay your tuition
Our MPA online program offers the same affordable tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Important dates for our students
Our MPA online program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, with accelerated coursework and multiple start dates a year.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/8/24 | 12/15/23 | 12/19/23 | 1/4/24 | 1/5/24 | 2/23/24 |
| Spring 2 | 3/4/24 | 2/19/24 | 2/23/24 | 2/29/24 | 3/1/24 | 4/26/24 |
| Summer 1 | 5/6/24 | 4/22/24 | 4/26/24 | 5/2/24 | 5/3/24 | 6/20/24 |
| Summer 2 | 6/24/24 | 6/10/24 | 6/14/24 | 6/20/24 | 6/21/24 | 8/7/24 |
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Admissions
Steps to being admitted to our online public management program
A-State Online offers a streamlined admission process for both new students and transfers. Students who are interested in the MPA online program must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Review full admission requirements below.
Admission Requirements:
- Online application
- Official transcripts
- Bachelor's degree
Admission requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with at least 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale or at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 hours
- 500-word Statement of Purpose
Note: If you have a 3.0 – 3.199 cumulative GPA, you must make a grade of "B" or better during the first 9 hours of graduate work at Arkansas State University.
If your transcript(s) do not reflect grades of “C” or higher in courses on American national government and Research Methods, you will be required to take these courses prior to or during the first graduate enrollment period.
Application submission requirements
- Complete online application.
- Pay the nonrefundable $30 application fee.
- Send official transcript(s) from the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
- Submit a 500-word Statement of Purpose.
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
Additional information
Transfer credits
Applicants with prior “F” or “D” grades at the graduate level in any graduate program will not be admitted to the A-State MPA program. In addition, students who earn failing (“F") grades in the A-State MPA program are ineligible for readmission to the program. The only exception is with the Capstone.
Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. Transfer credit will be evaluated by the Director of the Program. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.
Courses
A look at the online MPA – Public Management curriculum
Students pursuing this degree must complete 36 credit hours, which includes co-requisite courses (as required), MPA courses (21 hours) and Public Management track courses (15 hours) listed below.
Must complete 15 credit hours, including choosing between POSC 660V or POSC 6473.
*In order to complete in 18 months, two courses must be taken each start and must begin program in the first session of the semester.